Collins was projected before last season as, at best, a late first-round draft selection. Most early predictions have him going in the first round of the 2015 draft.

A second team All-Southeastern Conference pick in 2013, Collins is expected to anchor LSU’s offensive line this season. He started 12 of 13 games last season at left tackle, a part of a powerful run-blocking left side of the line with Vadal Alexander. Collins started all 13 games at left guard as a sophomore.

He’s rated by many as one of the top five offensive tackles in college football for 2014. Five tackles were selected in the first round of the draft in May.

Collins will pay a one-time insurance premium to the company upon signing an NFL contract, the source said. If an injury in 2014 prevents him from signing a deal worth a certain amount (last year it was $5 million), the insurance company will pay him the difference.

It’s not clear what the premium is, but other players with similar insurance policies have paid in the $30,000-$60,000 range. Collins’ deal, though, covers two seasons.

Former Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel and ex-South Carolina defensive end Jadeveon Clowney both got insurance policies before last season. They did it through the NCAA’s exceptional student-athlete disability insurance. It’s unclear if Collins’ policy is through the NCAA program.

Peveto sixth-highest paid on staff

LSU special teams coordinator and defensive assistant Bradley Dale Peveto is under a three-year contract and will make a base salary of $350,000 in 2014, according to contract details released to The Advocate through a public records request.

Peveto will get an automatic $50,000 raise entering each his second year, in January 2015, and his third year, in January 2016. The deal expires March 17, 2017, at which point he’ll be making a base salary of $450,000.

Peveto, like many LSU assistants, can receive incentives for postseason accomplishments. His incentive package is capped at $75,000.

Peveto is the sixth-highest paid coach on Les Miles’ nine-person staff. Peveto, who came to LSU from Kentucky, was the third highest-paid assistant on Mark Stoops’ staff behind both coordinators. He made $300,000 a year, the Courier-Journal has reported.

Peveto replaced Thomas McGaughey who left LSU for the New York Jets. McGaughey was set to make a base of $310,000 this year.

Peveto joins offensive line coach Jeff Grimes as new additions to the staff this offseason. Grimes is making a base salary of $362,500.

Grimes and Peveto now have the longest contracts of any position coach. Every other position coach and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron have contracts that run through 2015 season. Defensive coordinator John Chavis’ contract runs through 2014. Miles received an extension last year through 2019.